| School Year
Similar to the academic year, Areté Music Academy’s full-year program begins in September and ends in June. Please refer to the school calendar to determine class schedules, holidays and school closings.
Private Lessons
Students may choose to enroll in a full-year program (32 weeks) or a semester program (16 weeks). Tuition for private lessons is pro-rated for students entering after the start of each semester. New students have the opportunity to meet with the Director or the Department Head for consultation and placement. All students should specify preferred days and times on the registration form. Requests for a specific teacher are granted based on teacher’s availability.
Group Classes, Ensembles, Choir, Seminars
Group class enrollments are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Mid-year enrollments are possible for selected classes; please contact the office for details. Areté Music Academy reserves the right to cancel classes due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. In the event a class is cancelled, you will be notified and given the opportunity to transfer to another class. If you do not enroll in another class, you will receive a full refund.
Missed Lessons and Make-up Policies (Private and Group Lessons)
Areté Music Academy has one week at the end of each semester during which teachers will make up any lessons they may have missed during the semester. If a lesson is cancelled by the instructor or by the school, on a snow day for example, a make-up session will be scheduled during the last week of the semester or at a mutually convenient time. The school will offer up to three alternative times to the student to schedule a make-up. If the student is not able to accept the three make-up times offered and also cannot attend the make-up week, the school will not be held responsible for making up the missed lesson.
If a private lesson is cancelled by the student, only one excused absence is allowed per semester with 24- hour advance notification. In that case, a make-up session will be scheduled during the last week of the semester or at a mutually convenient time. The school will offer up to three alternative times to the student to schedule a make-up. If the student is not able to accept the three make-up times offered and also cannot attend the make-up week, the school will not be held responsible for making up the missed lesson.
To be qualified for a make-up session, please follow the cancellation procedure below:
- All cancellation must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
- Call the office at 201.205.1121 as soon as you find out that you have to cancel an upcoming lesson. Please leave a detailed message regarding your cancellation if no one answers the phone.
- Notify the office as soon as possible if you need to schedule a make-up session.
Please note that calling the instructor at home to cancel a lesson will not be considered a sufficient notice.
Make-up Policies for Group Classes
In case of student’s illness or other need to be absent, we do not offer make-up classes. Students enrolled in a class with multiple sections, with the permission of the instructor, may attend another section of the class. If the instructor misses a class, a make-up will be scheduled.
Tardiness
Students are expected to attend and be punctual to all lessons, classes, and rehearsals. Students who are routinely late, unprepared, or demonstrate inappropriate behavior may have their registration cancelled. Students who are late for a lesson cannot be guaranteed their lesson time. Instructor will wait for a student for one-third of the scheduled lesson duration; students are asked to do the same.
Class Changes and Cancellations
Areté Music Academy reserves the right to change instructors or formats, or cancel classes due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen circumstances. In the event a class is cancelled, you will be notified and given the opportunity to transfer to another class. If you do not enroll in another class, you will receive a full refund.
Substitute Instructors
All of the instructors at Areté Music Academy are active professional musicians currently performing in the tri-state area as well as abroad. Although our teachers try their best to avoid possible conflicts, the school does not guarantee that teachers will not miss any lesson. A qualified substitute teacher will be provided if an instructor is ill or otherwise unable to attend a lesson/class. If a substitute teacher cannot be arranged, a make-up session will be scheduled during the last week of the semester or at a mutually convenient time.
Photography and Recording Release
By registering for lessons and/or classes, or by attending any Areté event, parents and students, and other adults accompanying the students, grant permission for photographs and recordings of him/herself – or of his or her child – to be used by Areté Music Academy for publicity purposes. These photographs will not be distributed, sold, or used beyond Areté’s promotional or in-school curriculum and professional development activities.
Child Safety
To ensure your child’s safety, please pick him/her up promptly at the classroom. Areté Music Academy does not assume responsibility of students’ security and safety when parents choose to leave them unattended at the school. Students under the age of 10 must be supervised by parents or guardians while they are waiting for classes and/or lessons to begin.
Injuries
Parents, legal guardians of minor students and adult students waive the right to any legal action for any injury sustained on school property resulting from normal lesson activity or any other activity conducted by the students before, during or after lesson time.
Snow Days
Areté Music Academy is closed for snow when the local public schools close or have early closings. Please call 201.205.1121 or check our website for the most up-to-date information regarding closings. The School will arrange make-up days for unscheduled closings.
Tuitions
Tuitions are as listed with each program description. All tuitions do not cover the cost of instrument rental, music, and materials. Tuitions for the Conservatory program will vary depending on with who you’ll be studying privately. Please contact the office for more information.
Payment Information
Tuition must be paid in full 14 days before the first lesson or class. We accept payments by cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard. All credit card payments have to be made in person. All checks should be made payable to Areté Music Academy and mailed to 120 Van Nostrand Ave, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.
Returned Checks
There is a $50 fee for all returned checks.
Late Payment
Areté Music Academy reserves the right to suspend or terminate instruction for students who do not meet their financial obligations by the deadlines.
Withdrawals and Refunds
All requests for withdrawal and tuition refund must be submitted, in writing, to the Director. Verbal requests of intention to withdraw do not fulfill this requirement. Informing the teacher of intent to withdraw also is not considered notice of withdrawal. The effective date of withdrawal is the date that the written notice is received, not the last date of lesson or class. Please allow two to three weeks for the processing of refunds.
Withdrawal made before the first session will receive a full tuition refund minus a 5% credit card fee (if applicable)
A pro-rated tuition refund, minus a 5% credit card fee of applicable, will be given to students withdrawing from the first 4 private lessons or the first 2 group classes. Otherwise student will receive school credits for the unused lessons.
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